WATCH: Conservative MP rips Liberals, demands info on Winnipeg lab security breach

Conservative MP Michael Chong ripped the government for not turning over documents on why scientists were let go from the Winnipeg lab.

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Brendan Boucher Ottawa ON
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Conservative MP Michael Chong and others ripped the government and the president of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for not turning over documents requested by the House of Commons. In a rare move, PHAC President Iain Stewart was brought to the bar of the House of Commons and admonished by the Speaker of the House for refusing to turn over documents to the House.

"The House of Commons possesses privileges that are an integral part of the 1867 constitution, such as the power to require the production of documents," said House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota. "As guardian of these rights and privileges, that is precisely what the House is asking me to do today, by ordering the speaker to reprimand you for the Public Health Agency’s contempt refusing to submit the required documents."

It's been over 100 years since a similar event has happened in the House. Stewart refuses to hand over documents on the firings of scientists Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng. Stewart was told to bring the documents to his public admonishing but showed up empty-handed.

Qui and Cheng are said to have organized a material transfer of virus samples to the Wuhan Institute of Virology including the dangerous Ebola virus. Public Health says all measures were followed but redacted documents show questions and concerns being raised. Qui and Cheng were ultimately fired shortly after.

"This government, Mr. Speaker is rolling back 18 decades of parliamentary evolution, with its defiance of now four orders of this House and its committee," said Conservative MP Michael Chong. Opposition parties also banded together to find the government and Stewart in contempt of Parliament.

"Why do Canadians send 338 of their fellow citizens to this chamber, if its decisions are ignored? Why do you spend $400 million a year on Parliament, if our votes don't mean anything? Why are we spending billions on the buildings on this precinct if the processes and the procedures here don't amount to anything? Why do we vote to adopt orders if the government is going to ignore them?" Chong exclaimed in the House.

He finished, "When will this government show some respect for Parliament and follow the order of this House to produce the documents related to the breaches at its Winnipeg lab."

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